That laminate for many years kept the attractive exterior and did not collapse from mechanical influence, it is necessary to choose correctly thickness of panels and their lock. The durability of operation of this floor covering depends on these characteristics.
Opinions on popular floor covering – laminate, quite contradictory. Many are sure that this finishing material is short-lived because of the small rigidity at longitudinal bend and weak resistance to mechanical influence. What professionals will object to: it is necessary to be able to choose correctly thickness of this floor covering, and it will prove the high operating ability in practice.
Structure of the laminated panel for finishing of floor
This material has difficult sandwich construction which is designed to provide it durability and durability. It is accepted to allocate 4 main layers which structure is various.
- the stabilizing layer (lower); - the main (it is made of chipboard and determines panel thickness: 6 mm, 7 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm); - decorative (it is made of special paper or foil with the drawing applied on them); - protective (lamination); To buy qualitative floor covering, it is necessary to know about what has to be thickness of each of them and, in particular the operational surface providing resistance to abrasion. Depending on type of durability of protective layer, laminate is subdivided into classes. Thickness of lamination fluctuates from 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.
Where and what laminate to lay?
When choosing laminate the following parameters have to be defining: passability of the place of its laying, temperature condition indoors, flatness of floor, need for substrate, room function. Proceeding from this analysis it is necessary to be guided by the following recommendations: On condition of the equal basis and small surface loads of floor there will be enough finishing by the laminated panels 6-8 mm thick. Such conditions are normal for bedrooms and other rooms of narrow functionality. In the conditions of intensive operation of floor (kitchens, living rooms, nurseries and other rooms with stable temperature condition) the big thickness of all panel, or its top layer is required. On packing the producer specifies density of lamination of this product. The optimum choice – floor covering 8-10 mm thick with protection against 0.4 mm. For industrial premises, shops, offices with high attendance of people, it is recommended to use commercial laminate with class of loading 31.32 and 33. Thickness of the panel of these products is 10-12 mm. They have high resistance to abrasion and can be laid on surface with small roughnesses which compensate by qualitative substrate. Choosing laminate it is necessary to pay attention not only to its thickness, but also to form of locks which in many respects define life cycle of this floor covering. The quality of these feature connectors depends on thickness of the main layer of plate which for premises has to be not less than 8 mm. In this case it is possible to be sure that flooring will faultlessly serve for many years.